Utilisation of high quality protein maize in poultry

Maize is the preferred energy cereal used in poultry feed formulations because of its high energy, low fibre and the presence of pigments and essential fatty acids. Consequently because it is a primary source of energy, due to its higher level of inclusion in poultry diets (60-70%), it contributes approximately 30% of the protein requirement of poultry. However, maize, like other cereals, is deficient in certain essential amino acids, such as lysine and tryptophan. Therefore, to meet the requirements of these essential amino acids, farmers and feed producers usually supplement poultry rations with synthetic amino acids. Quality protein maize (QPM), with almost double the lysine and tryptophan levels, is no different from that of normal maize (NM) in terms of the quantity of energy and protein it contains. Consequently, inclusion of QPM in poultry formulations will enable the feed manufacturer to produce feeds requiring minimal or no additional supplementation of crystalline amino acids particularly lysine and tryptophan. This review examines the available research on the nutritional value of QPM in poultry for its commercial exploitation as a feed material.